#Chapter 132 – United

When Victor and Evelyn walk back into the campsite, him still leaning heavily on her shoulder, their family is waiting for them.

Ian and Alvin rush forward, throwing themselves into their parents’ arms.

“We’re so glad you’re okay,” Alvin whispers, his voice excited but edged with sleepiness.

“Did you win?” Ian asks, looking excitedly up at his dad.

His dad ruffles his hair and gives him a warm smile, but doesn’t answer. It’s a complicated question.

Instead, the family moves, together, towards the still-burning fire at the middle of the campsite. Marissa and Bridgette are there, waiting, and Henry rolls out onto the porch of his cabin. Looking around, Victor can see his Beta team edging closer, all eager to hear the results of the trial.

“Well well,” Henry says, folding his hands in his lap. “I see that one of my sons has returned, apparently victorious. And where is Rafe?”

Evelyn can see Bridgette biting her lip, anxious.

Victor flicks his head backwards, indicating the still-dark forest, though dawn is starting to light the sky. “He’s still out there, writhing in the snow, feeling the effects of wolfsbane.”

Bridgette gasps, getting shakily to her feet, staring out into the woods. Evelyn’s heart goes out to her; if it had been Rafe that returned to let them know that Victor was lying in the snow, suffering, she’d be desperate to help him.

Henry opens his mouth to say more, but Victor interrupts him. “Rafe cheated. He sent a proxy in to take his place in the fight, not showing up until his entire force had been wiped out.”

Henry nods, glancing at the boys, who had told him the same. He opens his mouth, ready to declare a winner.

“But,” Victor continues, “the final blow to Rafe was not delt with my hand.”

family and Betas look at Victor and Evelyn, confused. Silence reigns in the

shrugs. “I

going to bed. We can talk about all of this,” she waves a hand to indicate the whole

we’ll sort this out in the morning after the medic teams go retrieve the wounded.” With this, he looks pointedly at his lead Beta, who

a box of supplies and then, decisively, takes

wine and sips it while she helps the boys out of their snow gear. Their eyes are half-lidded now after all of

more sneaking out,” Evleyn murmurs to them as she kisses each on their forehead. She turns to see Victor tending to his ankle, hissing as he eases off his boot and surveys the

broken?” she

a first-aid pack she finds beneath the bed and he wraps his ankle tightly. When he finishes, Evelyn hands him two ibuprofen from the kit and half a mug of wine with which

them with sauvignon blanc. “Whiskey would have been better.” He winces as

helping him ease back onto the bed and prop his injured leg

climbs into the bed as well, curling up next to him, her mostly-empty glass of wine still pressed

his face. “Is going to be

and then lazily putting the cup up on the nearby

to get through you three first,” he says, smiling and stroking her hair, “I think I’m in a pretty good

pressing herself close to him, not letting herself think about tomorrow, when the trial would

blinks against it as she feels Victor sitting up

Evelyn,” he says, wincing as he puts his injured leg on the floor. “Go back to

from across the room, rubbing

Evelyn murmurs, rubbing a hand over her sleepy head. “For four more hours of sleep, I’d give up

before hobbling off towards the bathroom. He knows she wouldn’t miss this upcoming family conversation for

the window that overlooks the firepit. “Everyone’s already up!” he says, eager. “Look, there’s uncle Rafe!” Alvin joins him at the window, peering out to see their uncle bundled in blankets, sitting in a wheelchair borrowed from their grandfather. He twitches, lightly, wincing

“He’s pretty

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